Tell me about your squeaky clean backside!

d2mini · Mar 31, 2016

Those of you who keep the back glass clean... how do you do it?
I've always gone for the au-naturale look, letting coraline take over and just cleaning the front and side panes of glass.
Thinking of trying to keep the back glass clean this time. Got any tips?
Also, I usually cover mine in black, either paint or vinyl. What do you suggest if you plan on cleaning it?
I'd think you would have to be careful with what you choose if using any kind of magnet cleaner.

TIA!

revhtree · Mar 31, 2016

I would usually use a hand scraper short and long and just scrape it when I did a water change. You just have to make sure you can reach all the spots!

Birddog · Mar 31, 2016

On my very first reef I went au-natural, on my second tank (my current tank) I painted the back black and ensured I had enough room to get my hand behind my rock scape. I use a small hand glass cleaner every 4-6 days. Really not that big of a deal to take the few moments a week to keep it clean and personally I enjoy the look.
Not a current photo , but you get the idea

WilRams · Mar 31, 2016

Clean back is the way to go! I just add it to my routine to do list when I clean the front. Just put some thought into the initial rock work to make life easier on yourself.

Sabellafella · Mar 31, 2016

Home depot razor scraper attached to a wooden stick every 2 weeks. Takes about a minute to scrape

Lowstorm · Mar 31, 2016

My son is small enough to walk behind my tank and use the magnet. He thinks it's fun...

Salt It Away · Mar 31, 2016

d2mini said:
Those of you who keep the back glass clean... how do you do it?
I've always gone for the au-naturale look, letting coraline take over and just cleaning the front and side panes of glass.
Thinking of trying to keep the back glass clean this time. Got any tips?
Also, I usually cover mine in black, either paint or vinyl. What do you suggest if you plan on cleaning it?
I'd think you would have to be careful with what you choose if using any kind of magnet cleaner.

TIA!

My original plan was to let it go and get that authentic natural look. When it started to resemble shag carpet, my son cleaned it up while I was out of town. That's the way I go now. Squeaky clean.

Elegance Coral · Apr 1, 2016

If you're going for the clean look, just don't let it go. Scrape it at every water change. If you let it go to long, it's like bustin stone trying to get coraline off.

BlueCursor · Apr 1, 2016

Scraper every couple of weeks. Wish I could scrape my overflow! Thing is coralline red and it annoys me.

revhtree · Apr 1, 2016

Birddog said:
On my very first reef I went au-natural, on my second tank (my current tank) I painted the back black and ensured I had enough room to get my hand behind my rock scape. I use a small hand glass cleaner every 4-6 days. Really not that big of a deal to take the few moments a week to keep it clean and personally I enjoy the look.
Not a current photo , but you get the idea

Looks nice!

revhtree · Apr 1, 2016

One of my favorite is the tanks of @SunnyX! His clean blue background always looked awesome IMO!

Birddog · Apr 1, 2016

revhtree said:
Looks nice!

Thanks Rev!

Naka · Apr 1, 2016

keep rocks and corals/zoas off the back and side glass. Much easier to scrape off the coralline algae

Pepcrylic · Apr 2, 2016

I am able to keep mine clean using a algae magnet . Be sure to leave a bit more space between the glass and the rock, coral, ect. Also room for coral growth. I have access to three sides of my tank. But is set in a wall so the viewing is mostly done from the living room. Instead of painting, or adding vinyl to the back I use blue fabric. It is attached to the top eurobrace and weighted at the bottom. When I clean (or want to see in the tank from the fishroom side) I just roll up the fabric. If I get tiered of the color I will go back to the fabric store

scottbapilot · Apr 2, 2016

Birddog said:
On my very first reef I went au-natural, on my second tank (my current tank) I painted the back black and ensured I had enough room to get my hand behind my rock scape. I use a small hand glass cleaner every 4-6 days. Really not that big of a deal to take the few moments a week to keep it clean and personally I enjoy the look.
Not a current photo , but you get the idea

Cadlight's?

Damon · Apr 2, 2016

I am also considering this.. I just know it is going to be a lot of initial work, as I haven't cleaned it since the system has been set up.. I am leaving heavily towards doing it, I just haven't fully committed... I would leave the overflow boxes covered, and just clean the glass...

XxJDMcivicEK9xX · Apr 2, 2016

My first aquarium I always let coralline grow but my current one I'm obsessed with a clean background. It makes the colors pop more.

Damon · Apr 2, 2016

XxJDMcivicEK9xX said:
My first aquarium I always let coralline grow but my current one I'm obsessed with a clean background. It makes the colors pop more.

I think that is what is attracting me to the idea.. Every tank I see that had a black or clean background, the life, rock and colors just seem to pop more and not blend in..

Birddog · Apr 2, 2016

scottbapilot said:
Cadlight's?

DSA 65g

A.G · Apr 2, 2016

Birddog said:
On my very first reef I went au-natural, on my second tank (my current tank) I painted the back black and ensured I had enough room to get my hand behind my rock scape. I use a small hand glass cleaner every 4-6 days. Really not that big of a deal to take the few moments a week to keep it clean and personally I enjoy the look.
Not a current photo , but you get the idea

Let me say that this is a very nice looking tank you got there, i like the aquascaping .